Utensil set

ABSTRACT

A utensil has two interchangeably nesting pieces stacked one above the other to form therebetween a space typically for receiving ice cubes or hot water. A first piece has a recessed area and an annular flange extending from a first wall which encloses the recessed area. The flange has a ridge extending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof. A second piece has a receiving area enclosed by a second wall and a first leg portion extending downwardly from an underside of the second piece. The first leg portion of the second piece is sized to be engaged with an inner periphery of the first wall of the first piece thereunder. Alternately the first piece can be mounted on and above the second piece with the wall of the second piece engaged with an inside of the ridge of the first piece.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a utensil set which includes afirst piece and a second piece which can be engaged with the first pieceto form an enclosed space therebetween so as to receive ice cubes or hotwater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional utensil such as a plate or a bowl has only singlefunction which is that food is received in the recessed space located ina center of the utensil. There is no extra function to keep thetemperature of the food. Besides, it needs another plate to havedipping, source or the like and this increase the quantity of dirtyplates or bowls to be washed. The conventional utensil is not convenientto bring food to a distance because no cap or cover is designed for theutensil.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide a utensil set that canbe engaged with each other in a variety of ways so as to meet differentneeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a utensil set which comprises a first piece having a recessedarea and an annular flange is connected to a first wall of the recessedarea. A second piece has a receiving area enclosed by a second wall anda first leg portion extends from an underside of the second piece. Thefirst leg portion is engaged with an inner periphery of the edge of therecessed area of the first piece.

[0005] The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 shows the first piece and the second piece of the utensilset of the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 shows a first way to engage the first piece with the secondpiece;

[0008]FIG. 3 shows a second way to engage the first piece with thesecond piece;

[0009]FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the second piece;

[0010]FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the first piece;

[0011]FIG. 6 shows a way of use for the combination of the utensil setof the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 7 shows three sets of the utensil set are piled up;

[0013]FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the utensil set of the presentinvention;

[0014]FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the utensil set of the presentinvention;

[0015]FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the utensil set of thepresent invention, and

[0016]FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the utensil set of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the utensil set of the presentinvention comprises a first piece 1 which has a recessed area 10 and anannular flange extending from a first wall 11 enclosing the recessedarea 10. The flange of the first piece 1 has a plurality of recesses 12defined in a top surface thereof so as to receive spoons, forks 3,source or dipping therein. The flange of the first piece 1 further has aridge 13 extending downward from an outer periphery thereof.

[0018] A second piece 2 has a receiving area 24 enclosed by a secondwall 20 and a first leg portion 22 extends from an underside of thesecond piece 2. The first leg portion 22 is sized to be engaged with aninner periphery of the first wall 11 of the recessed area 10 of thefirst piece 1 as shown in FIG. 3. The first piece 1 may also be put onthe second piece 2 with the wall of the second piece 2 engaged with aninside of the ridge 13 of the first piece 1. Therefore, an enclosedspace is defined between the first piece 1 and the second piece 2. Thespace may receive ice cubes 4 or hot water so as to maintain thetemperature of the food 5 put in the first piece 1 as shown in FIG. 6 orthe second piece 2. By the same engagement, as shown in FIG. 7, thecombination of the first piece 1 and the second piece 2 can be piled upto save the space of storage.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 8, a second embodiment of the utensil set isthat an outer periphery of the recessed area 10 of the first piece 1 issized to be engaged with an inside of the first leg portion 22 of thesecond piece 2 of a first set of the utensil set. Therefore, the firstpiece 1 can be put on the wall 20 of the second piece 2 in anupside-down position and the outer periphery of the recessed area 10 ofthe first piece 1 is engaged with the inside of the first leg portion 22of the second piece 2 of a second set of the utensil. A first piece 1 issupported on the wall 20 of the second piece 2 of the second set of theutensil set. A third set of the utensil set which is the same as thefirst set is then put on the second set of the utensil set by engagingthe first leg portion 22 of the second piece 2 of the third set of theutensil set with the inner periphery of the recessed area 10 of thefirst piece 1 of the second set of the utensil set.

[0020]FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment wherein a second leg portion 14extends from the underside of the first piece 1 and is sized to beengaged with the outer periphery of the first leg portion 22 of thesecond piece 2. A first set of the utensil set has a first piece 1mounted on the wall 20 of the second piece 2 in an upside-down position.The second set and the third set of the utensil set are identical andthe first piece 1 is supported on the wall 20 of the second piece 2 atits normal position. The second leg portion 14 of the first set of theutensil set is engaged with the first leg portion 22 of the second piece2 of the second set of the utensil set.

[0021]FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment which is similar to the thirdembodiment, wherein the second piece 2 has a third leg portion 22′extending from the underside thereof and the third leg portion 22′located at an inner side of the first leg portion 22. The third legportion 22′ of the second piece 2 of the first set of the utensil set issized to be engaged with the inner periphery of the second leg portion14 of the first piece 1 of the first set of the utensil set.

[0022]FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment, wherein an annular notch 21 isdefined in an inner edge of an inner periphery of the second wall 20 ofthe second piece 2 so that the flange of the first piece 1 can beengaged with the annular notch 21 to be supported by the wall 20 of thesecond piece 2.

[0023] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in theart that further embodiments may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A utensil set comprising: a first piece having arecessed area and an annular flange extending from a first wallenclosing the recessed area, and a second piece having a receiving areaenclosed by a second wall and a first leg portion extending from anunderside of the second piece, the first leg portion being sized to beengaged with an inner periphery of the first wall of the recessed areaof the first piece.
 2. The utensil set as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe flange of the first piece has a plurality of recesses defined in atop surface thereof.
 3. The utensil set as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe flange of the first piece has a ridge extending from an outerperiphery thereof and the wall of the second piece is engaged with aninside of the ridge of the first piece.
 4. The utensil set as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an outer periphery of the recessed area is sized to beengaged with an inside of the first leg portion of the second piece. 5.The utensil set as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second legportion extending from an underside of the first piece and being sizedto be engaged with an outer periphery of the first leg portion of thesecond piece.
 6. The utensil set as claimed in claim 5, wherein thesecond piece has a third leg portion extending from the undersidethereof and the third leg portion located at an inner side of the firstleg portion, the third leg portion being sized to be engaged with aninner periphery of the second leg portion of the first piece.
 7. Theutensil set as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an annular notchdefined in an inner edge of an inner periphery of the second wall of thesecond piece and the flange of the first piece being engaged with theannular notch.